Pan-Seared Lemon-Thyme Chicken with Garlic Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared with fresh lemon and thyme, finished with a rich garlic butter sauce. This Italian recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 pieces (6 oz each) chicken breasts
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tsp, chopped fresh thyme
• 1 medium, zested and juiced lemon

The instant-read thermometer we’d check this chicken with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add chicken breasts and sear for 5 minutes without moving until golden brown on the bottom.
3. Step 3: Flip chicken breasts, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme to the skillet. Spoon the melted butter over chicken continuously while cooking for another 5 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
4. Step 4: Remove skillet from heat and squeeze juice of 1 lemon and sprinkle 1 lemon zest over the chicken. Let rest for 3 minutes before serving, spooning the garlic butter sauce over the top.